Car care self-service device

ABSTRACT

A car care self-service device capable of carrying out a plurality of different car care operations comprising a housing defining an internal space, the housing having a front wall having an aperture for displaying a plurality of spray devices; a plurality of supply tanks for storing different car care agents, each of the plurality of supply tanks being in fluid communication with a respective one of each of the plurality of spray devices; a conduit for communicating each tank with a respective spray device, the conduit includes a hose mounted on a reel within the housing for allowing the hose to be unwound from the reel by pulling on the spray device thereby allowing the spray device to be moved to a work site; and a control within the housing internal space for selectively controlling the feed of car care agents from the supply tanks to the spray devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-service device which enables anindividual to perform a number of cleaning and other care procedures onan automobile without the necessity of a service person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the self-service device ischaracterized by the fact that each one of a number of spray guns forspraying care products by means of compressed air is made accessiblefrom outside, each spray gun being associated with a compressed airreservoir, a supply tank for the respective care product, and a mixingdevice, to the latter of which the spray gun is connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show a specific embodiment of a device in accordance withthe invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a device seen from the exterior.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the arrangement of the parts associated withone spray gun, and

FIG. 3 shows an alternate version of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The number 1 designates the housing of a self-service device, which hasa hinged cover 2 and is mounted either movable on rollers 3 or,alternatively, maybe fixed to a wall. Six spray guns 5 with theirconnecting hoses 6 are suspended in a recess so that they may be easilytaken down by the user and removed for use. Each gun 5 is specified forthe application of a specific cleaning agent. The case functions may beselected as needed by means of the push-buttons 7a-f. In a modifiedversion, this selection may be made at the same time as the operation ofthe devices are actuated by pushing on the button of the spray gunconcerned. In the case of the example shown, the following functions areavailable for selection:

a) Tire-/rubber cleaner,

b) Windshield and glass cleaner,

c) Dashboard instrument cleaner,

d) Cushion and seat cleaner,

e) Engine sealing, and

f) Deodorizer-aerosol for the cabin air.

The number 8 designates an ordinary coin slot with coin-acceptor unitfor activating the device, however, a slot for tokens also may beprovided.

The elements included in the housing 1 are shown schematically in FIG.2:

A feeding device in the form of a pump 10 supplies the cleaning agentassociated with the respective spray gun 5 from the supply tank 11 via athrottle 12 in the mixing device 13, where it passes a release valve 14.Also, compressed air from the compresser air reservoir 15 is fed intothe mixing device 13. From the mixing device 13 the compressed air mixedwith the cleaning agent is supplied through the hose reel 17 to thespray gun 5. In the known way the hose 18 may be unwound from the reel17 by pulling on the spray gun 5, so that the spray gun 5 may beconveniently guided to the work site.

A control box 19 having current supply, a blocking device connected withthe coin slot, and the necessary control elements for all spray islocated within the housing.

Upon the insertion of a token or of a corresponding amount of money, afee for different care services may be charged, the blocking device isreleased by the control elements in control box 19 and the motor 22 andthe selected mixing device are set into operation. In this case apressure sensor 16 recognizes the consumption of the care agent andstarts a timer or other amount limitation of the care agent in thecontrol box 19. The time or amount made available for a cleaningprocedure is indicated backwards (with decreasing value) in seconds oramount units by means of a graphic display 20.

The control may be set so that either a token or a coin may be insertedfor each cleaning procedure or a total amount may be inserted for allcleaning procedures chosen.

Each supply feeding device or pump 10 may be driven by a separate motor22. However, it is advantageous to provide only a common motor 22 towhich the selected supply pump 10 in each case may be connected via acoupling 21.

In a similar way, it is also possible to provide only a single pressurereservoir 15 to which the selected mixing device 13 may be selectivelyconnected.

In the case of the version shown in FIG. 5, the supply pressure of thedifferent care agent tanks may be set so that the containers 11 areconnected with the common pressure reservoir 15 via a pressure reducingvalve 23 so that there is a supply of pressure 24 in each tank 11.However, each tank 11 may be connected via a separate pressure reducingvalve 25 with the pressure reservoir 15, so that the supply pressure 24may be set individually for each tank.

The pressure reservoir 15 may be refilled either by connecting to acompressor or to another pressure source.

A level indicator or a signal light, which lights up when a refill isrequired, may be provided in the front for each care agent tank. Thedevice described may be installed in car washes, filling stations, or inlarge garages. The following care agents are to be considered here:

Rim cleaners

Engine cleaners

Windshield wiper fluid

Silicon for door gaskets

Distilled water

Rubber cleaner (tires)

Glass-/windshield cleaner

Plastic-/instrument cleaners

Upholstery/seat/leather cleaners

Engine sealing

Air freshener (deodorant/perfume)

Of course, the self-service device could be equipped with only one spraygun and with one care agent instead of several spray guns and careagents.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetails of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass allsuch modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined bythe claims.

I claim:
 1. A car care self-service device capable of carrying out aplurality of different car care operations comprising a housing definingan internal space, said housing having a front wall having an aperturedisplaying a plurality of spray devices; a plurality of supply tanks forstoring different car care agents, each of said plurality of supplytanks being in fluid communication with a respective one of each of saidplurality of spray devices; conduit means for communicating each tankwith a respective spray device, said conduit means includes hose meansmounted on reel means within said housing for allowing said hose meansto be unwound from said reel by pulling on said spray device therebyallowing said spray device to be moved to a work site; a feeding deviceassociated with each conduit and a common motor within said housinginternal space for selectively controlling the feed of car care agentsfrom said supply tanks to said spray devices by said feeding device,said common motor having a coupling for selectively connecting saidmotor to said feeding device.